Mitchell Johnson hits back at James Anderson sledging to rock England

Mitchell Johnson responded to being told to ‘be quiet’ in no uncertain terms by
James Anderson with a devastating spell of bowling to dismiss England for a paltry 187 as Australia built a 200-run lead in Perth.

In Australia’s first innings, Anderson angered Johnson with a ‘shushing’ gesture after he bowled the Australian’s compatriot Ryan Harris and later celebrated wildly when he took the catch that dismissed Johnson for 62 later on.

But the hosts’ strike bowler got his revenge when he took four wickets for seven runs as England’s middle order were ripped apart – collapsing from 78-0 to 98-5.

Johnson finished with 6-38 as he undermined England’s ambitions of retaining the Ashes in this third Test with a supreme exhibition of late swing and left-arm pace.

And the Australian batsmen set about establishing a solid advantage over the tourists in the third session, despite the continuing poor form of captain Ricky Ponting .

After under-fire Phil Hughes was caught by Collingwood off Steven Finn, the young bowler also dismissed Ponting via video replays when the skipper was adjudged to have nicked a fuller delivery off his glove to Prior behind the stumps.

Michael Clarke also went for 20 to leave Australia rocking slightly on 64-3, but the arrival of in-form Michael Hussey steadied the ship.

Opener Shane Watson reached his half-century before the close of play, with the hosts on 119-3.

England, though, were left to rue a poor batting display.

Only Ian Bell (53), still down at number six after his increasingly impressive run of form, withstanding Johnson for long as England conceded a first-innings deficit of 81 by tea on day two.

Johnson’s intervention came in the nick of time for Australia, after England had moved serenely to 78 without loss on another sunny morning.

He broke the opening stand when Alastair Cook fell for his first score under 50 so far in the series, a push-drive sliding off the face of the bat low to gully – where Michael Hussey took a neat low catch.

After Johnson’s next over from the Prindiville Stand end, Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen were also gone – for four runs between them.

Devilish inswing accounted for two lbws as both batsmen shaped to drive.

Pietersen, who had made a man-of-the-match and career-best 227 in England’s innings victory at Adelaide two weeks ago, went for a third-ball duck this time.

He chanced a DRS review, but simulation confirmed Johnson was too good for him on this occasion.

Australia’s mercurial match-winner therefore continued to justify his recall, the native Queenslander having made a defiant half-century on what is now his home ground.

Australia, needing to avoid defeat here to stop England retaining the Ashes with an unassailable 2-0 lead, could not afford to miss any opportunities.

But they did so when Andrew Strauss (52) edged Ryan Harris between a static wicketkeeper and first slip for four when he had just 16.

The England captain played and missed several times but also counted eight boundaries in a 95-ball half-century.

But, with Johnson in full cry, Harris (three for 59) got his man caught behind before lunch with a delivery which did not swing but brought a deserved outcome for the bowler’s perseverance.

Johnson soon made Paul Collingwood his fourth victim, and third to go lbw to inswing.

Umpire Marais Erasmus initially ruled the ball had not hooped in quite enough to hit the stumps. But after Johnson requested DRS evidence, ‘Hawkeye’ overturned the verdict.

Matt Prior and Graeme Swann each dug in after lunch to lend Bell valuable support.

Peter Siddle was detailed by Ricky Ponting to bounce out the next wicket – and the tactic eventually worked when Prior tried to ride the bounce but unluckily deflected the ball down on to the base of his leg stump, via his hip.

Swann refused to give in during an unequal struggle, until the return of Harris saw him off – caught-behind, pushing forward.

The classy Bell had barely put a foot wrong and brought up his 79-ball 50 with an appropriately commanding punch on the up past cover off Harris for his sixth boundary.

With the tail exposed, though, he edged an attempted drive at the same bowler high to Ponting at third slip – and it was no surprise that Johnson made quick work of the final two wickets as the last four fell for just six runs.